Safety-pin.



' E. n. HOUSTON.

SAFETY PIN.

APPLICATION flLED FEB. 6. 1915.

1,192,898. Patented Aug l, 1916.

I Wdnesses fizz/273W i g M 0 atop-na Sl -WSW ing drawings in' which,

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.EDWARD n. HOUSTON, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. HOUSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Safety-Pin, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety pin, preferably formed entirely of wire, but at any rate, having a pin proper integral with a length of wire which constitutes the back of the pin.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction of this type in which the whole device, if desired, can be made of a single piece of continuous wire, and in which the pin itself shall be provided with a simple means at its end adaptedto be conveniently grasped, and suitable for manipulating the pin so that the pin can be operated and guided effectively by grasping it; to provide a construction in which the body of the pin passes over the pin member itself so as to furnish bearing points on both sides of the pin, preferably substantially in the same plane, for engaging the material in which the pin is placed and holding the back flat thereon; to provide, in

addition to the latter feature, a second crossit will yield lengthwise to permit the point of the pin to be drawn from the retainer simply by pullingon it, and will also permit the pin to be introduced into the retainer in a simple manner.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- Figure 1 is a plan of a pin constructed in accordance with this invention and showing it in position in a piece of cloth; F ig. 2 is a similar view showing how the pin can be attached and released from the cloth merely by a longitudinal pull; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the endof the pin; Fig. ,4 is a plan of a pin also constructed in accordance *within the control of the user.

SAFETY-PIN.

1,192,898. Spwifieafion of Letters Patent Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

I Application filed February 6, 1915. I Serial No. 6,594. J

with this invention and showing some modifications, and'Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modified form.

Referring first to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be'seen that the pin, in

, this'form, consists of a single integral continuous length of wire. One end of the wire lsformed into a stralght shaft 10 whichconstitutes the pin'member or pin proper. This is bent in its plane to form a scroll 11 which in this instance passes directly under the butt end of the pin and then is bent clear around this to form a second scroll 12.

These two scroll members are in the same plane and the first mentioned one is substantially rigid with respect to the pin on account of its contact with the wire underneath. This scroll member 11 being flat and rigidly connected with the pin, can be grasped rigidly between the finger and thumb and used for guiding and manipulating the pin point either with or without the assistance of the other scroll member 12. His to be observed that the scroll 12 is provided with a bend 13 and then continued inwardly to form a bar 14 crossing over the pin 10. This bar is shown in this case as having a coil 15 at its end substantially in the plane of the bend 13 and located substantially at the same distance from the pin member 10, but of course on the opposite side. From the coil the wire is bent in the opposite direction to form a second bar 16 which also passes overthe pin member 10 and terminates in a bend at 17 which lies in the plane of the coil 15. In practice, these three points, 13, 15 and 1 7, lie on the surface of the cloth or other material in which the pin is placed and serve to hold the pin in a flat position thereon, preventing its turning about the pin member as a center.

The wire is shown as formed with a small conical coil 18 at the end integral with the rest of the wire and serving as a retainer for the pin point;

In the manipulation of the device the coils 11 and 12 are grasped between the thumb and finger and then the pin point is directly manipulated and guided in any desired way and forced into the fabric at the-desired point. When this is done and it projects beyond the fabric, the user, then still having hold of the flat members 11 and 12, forces It can be the point of the pin against the slanting 119 surface 19 between the bend 17 and the coil. 18 and this guides the point of the pin down 16 and allows the pin point to escape from' the retainer. The set of the wire is such that the pin point will spring away from the retainer when released. Thus, considerable saving is secured in the time required for withdrawing the pin and there is no danger of itsgetting caught so that it can- 'not easily be detached. Nevertheless, there is no danger of its being detached accidentally.

- By having the three-point bearing on the I pin so that it engages the cloth at threepoints substantially in the same plane and on both sides of the pin itself, the pin will always stay in-the place in which it is put and cannot turn up at right-angles from that position, as 'isthe case with ordinary safety pins. Furthermore, an ornament, as for example a stone 20, can be applied to the pin asshown in Fig. 1, in'a very convenient manner; and either with or without an ornament, the'pin is of an attractive appearance and can be worn'in a scarf or in any position in which it is visible Without presenting in any way an unsightly appearance. The pin can be manufactured at a small expense andis useful, both for ornamental purposes and as a true safety pin. It is to be noted, also, that the surface 19 extends downwardly under the pin point and forms a guard beyond which the pin point cannot move in thatdirection, besides forming a guide for guiding the pin point into the retainer. In the form shown in Fig. 4, most of these advantages are also retained. Inthis case the pin member 10 is provided with a scroll in the form of a loop 11 which has a portion of the functions of the scroll, but it is not so intimately connected with the main pin member 10*, It forms a bearin point however on one side of the pin. F om this an arm 12 extends directly to form a bearing point 13 on the other side of the pin member and in the plane thereof, and a bar 14*, which constitutes the ba k of the pin, extends over the pin member to form the bend 17* on the other side and in the same plane as the first named bends. It will be seen therefore that some of the bearing points can be obtained without reference. to the back of the pin. This pin is provided with a retainer 18 of a different shape from that shown in the first two figures, but performs similar functions. A guiding surface 19 for the pin scribed, but

point also constituting a guard is shown. lin

this case it has a wire 21 which forms an additional guard. V

In Fig. 5 another formis shown in which the pin member 10 is provided with a curve or scroll 11 that is twisted around the base of the 'pin to form coils 22 which firmly secure this flat member or scroll 11 to the pin and consequently furnishv a still more secure and firm handle for manipulating the pin. In

this case the scroll ll forms a bearing at 7 13 on one side of the pin member'and. a bearing 15 is formed on the other side in the same plane. A bar 16 extends from this point over the pin to form the back of the pin and provide a third bearing point I 17 on the other side. In this case a retainer 18 is. also shown. Most of the advantages mentioned in describing. the first form shown are also present in the last two forms.

Although I have illustrated and described only three forms of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications .can'be' made in them, that features shown in one can be applied to others, and that other changes can be made in form and material without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction herein shown, and "de- What I do claim is g 1. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin comprising a pin member, a' back crossing the pin member at a point between its ends and yieldingly connected therewith,

tainer and preventing the pin point passing far to one side thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin comprising a pin member having at the butt thereof an integral continuous plane bend of wire arranged transverse thereof but in the plane of the pin member by which the pin member can be operated, the end of said bend crossing the pin at a short distance from its end to give it rigidity and extending beyond the pin on the other side and then back again'to the first side.

3. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin having a pin member provided at the and a retainer for the pin point on the end of said back which the pin is adapted to butt thereof with a transverse bend crossing the pin to render it rigid by which the pin' butt thereof an integral continuous plane bend of wire arranged to cross the pin member but in the plane of the pin member by which the pin member can be operated, said bend having a continuation thereof constituting the body of the pin and extending across the pin member a second time and having at its opposite end an integral coil constituting a catch or guard for receiving the point of the pin member.

5. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin comprising a pin member provided at the butt end thereof with a single flat transverse coil with which the base of the pin member is fixedly connected, the pin crossing this coil in contact therewith whereby this coil constitutes means for operating the pin member, said coil having an extension passing over the pin member to a point on the other side which lies substantially in the same plane as the plane of said coil and provided with means on the end for retain ing the point of the pin member.

6. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin comprising a pin member provided at the butt endthereof with ?a/ fiat transverse coil with which the pin member is fixedly connected, said coil having a bend provided with an extension passing over the body of the pin to a point on the other side which lies substantially in the plane of said bend, and then extending back again over the pin member to a point on the opposite side, and provided with means on the end for retaining the point of the pin member.

7, As an article of manufacture, a safety pin consisting of a single continuous length of wire, one end of which constitutes a pin member, a scroll formed at the butt of said pin member, passingby it and in contact with it, and then out and around the scroll in the plane thereof to form a plane member by which the pin can be manipulated, and

then being carried over the pin to the opposite side thereof, and finally back again over the pin to the first side and having a coil on the end for retaining the end of the pin.

8. As an article of manufacture, a safety pin comprising a pin member and having a body connected with said pin member at the butt thereof and projecting to one side thereof in the plane of the pin member, then crossing over the pin member to a point on the other side substantially in the same plane close to the butt thereof, and then again crossing the pin to the first named side to a point also substantially in the same plane and about atthe center of the pin and body, to form three bearing points on opposite sides of the pin and at a distance therefrom substantially in the same plane for engaging the material on which the pin is used and preventing said body from turning thereon, the second of said points being located substantially midway between the first and third. I

9. As an article of manufacture, a safety I pin comprising a pin member and having a body connected with said pin member at the butt thereof and projecting to one side thereof in the plane of the pin member, then crossing over the pin member to a point on the other side substantially in the same plane, to form bearing points on opposite sides of the pin and at a distance therefrom substantially in the same plane for engaging .the material on which the pin is used and preventing said body from turning thereon, said body being of spring wire, and having'a retainer for the pin point at the end beyond the last bearing point, whereby upon pulling the pin member back longipoint on the other side substantially in the same plane, and then again crossing the pin to the first named side to a point also substantially in the same plane, to form three bearing points on opposite sides of the pin and at a distance therefrom substantially in the same plane for engaging the material on which the pin is used and preventing said body from turning thereon, said body being of spring wire, and having a retainer .for the pin point at the end beyo'nd'all of said bearing points, whereby upon pulling the pin member back longitudinally the pin point can be drawn out of the retainer.

In testimony I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD D. HOUSTON. Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, C. FORREST WESSON' 

